Saying farewell to teaching

St. Monica teacher retires after 24 years.

St. Monica teacher retires after 24 years.

June 16, 2006|LAUREEN FAGAN Tribune Staff Writer

There have been so many little ones pass through her class that when a stranger walked into her retirement reception, 66-year-old Jan Ivacic of South Bend figured it was one of her old students. There have, after all, been 24 years' worth of them. "Oh, all the joy that kindergartners bring you," said Ivacic, who greeted well-wishers at St. Monica parish school in Mishawaka. "Ants, spiders, anything." She'll miss all the birthday celebrations. She'll miss the field trips and ice cream. Mostly, she'll miss being able to share her faith with the children, day after day. "She's a precious lady," said Steve Royal of Middlebury, a St. Monica liturgical minister who came to say goodbye. Sr. Pat Gavin, principal of the school, said Ivacic will be missed by the school family. "One of the things the children and parents say is, she's always made them feel at home," Gavin explained. She added that it was Ivacic's bubbly personality that was always attractive. And there, among the gold-and-purple balloons, the cake and memory books, it was clear she'd be remembered. Since she taught the youngest of children, she was always able to watch them grow. "It's beautiful," she said. "You just come to school, and no matter which grade it is?" They're all like her own. But Ivacic has so much she wants to do now, she said. "Travel," she explained. "I'd love to go back to Rome." And service. "Maybe some mission work along the way," she added.